Weave control grid

Abstract

Disclosed is a weaving method including placing a first section of a fill fiber between warp fibers, forming a pick, moving a base to reposition the warp fibers, and placing a second section of the fill fiber between the warp fibers to form a woven structure, wherein at least a portion of the warp fibers are introduced to the woven structure using a weave control grid. Also disclosed is a weaving assembly including a base, a base positional controller, a weave control grid, warp fiber arms, a warp fiber arm positional controller and a fill fiber wand.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A weaving method comprising:
 placing a first section of a fill fiber between warp fibers, 
 forming a pick, 
 moving a base to reposition the warp fibers, and 
 placing a second section of the fill fiber between the warp fibers to form a woven structure, 
 wherein at least a portion of the warp fibers are introduced to the woven structure using a weave control grid; 
 wherein the weave control grid has an open central section; and 
 wherein the weave control grid is modular to permit changes to a size and shape of the open central section to accommodate changes in a size and shape of the evolving woven structure. 
 
     
     
       2. The weaving method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the warp fibers are secured to the base. 
     
     
       3. The weaving method of  claim 1 , wherein the weave control grid is affixed to the base. 
     
     
       4. The weaving method of  claim 1 , wherein the weave control grid is slidably located below the fill fiber. 
     
     
       5. A weaving method comprising:
 forming a first pick, 
 repositioning warp fibers by moving warp fiber arms relative to a fill fiber wand, or repositioning warp fibers by moving a base relative to the fill fiber wand, or both and 
 forming a second pick after repositioning warp fibers to produce a woven structure, 
 wherein at least a portion of the warp fibers extend from one of the warp fiber arms to the base and at least a portion of the warp fibers are introduced to the woven structure using a weave control grid; 
 wherein the weave control grid has an open central section; and 
 wherein the weave control grid is modular to permit changes to a size and shape of the open central section to accommodate changes in a size and shape of the evolving woven structure. 
 
     
     
       6. The weaving method of  claim 5 , further comprising repositioning the weave control grid relative to the fill fiber wand. 
     
     
       7. The weaving method of  claim 5 , wherein warp fibers are positioned by the weave control grid prior to forming the first pick or second pick. 
     
     
       8. The weaving method of  claim 5 , wherein the weave control grid is attached to the base. 
     
     
       9. A weaving assembly comprising:
 a base, 
 a base positional controller, 
 a weave control grid, 
 warp fiber arms, 
 a warp fiber arm positional controller and 
 a fill fiber wand; 
 wherein the weave control grid has an open central section; and 
 wherein the weave control grid is modular to permit changes to a size and shape of the open central section to accommodate changes in a size and shape of an evolving woven structure. 
 
     
     
       10. The weaving assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a holding station. 
     
     
       11. The weaving assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the holding station is a secondary weave control grid. 
     
     
       12. The weaving assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the weave control grid is slidably located below the fill fiber wand. 
     
     
       13. The weaving assembly of  claim 12 , wherein a location of the weave control grid is controlled by a positional controller. 
     
     
       14. The weaving assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the weave control grid has openings with variable spacing between openings. 
     
     
       15. The weaving assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising additional weave control grids.